Connector device



"April14, 1942. L.'M. KEEFE 2,279,824

CONNECTOR DEVICE Filed Dec. 11, 1940 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 14, 1942- UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE v '5 2,279,824

CONNECTOR DEVICE :Lincoln M. Keefe, Springfield, Mass. Application December 11, 1940, Serial No. 369,568 6 Claims. (015173-328) This invention relates to improvements in connector devices, and hasfor an object the provision of a pair of cooperative connector blocks each forming the terminus of a plurality of cables and including isolated contact members so formed that the contact resistance therebetween is so low as to be negligible.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a connector device of a pair of similar rectangular insulation blocks each having alplurality of isolated cavities formed therein in spaced relation to each other in cooperating faces of the device and each having, on their opposite faces, channels for the cables leading to or from the devices.

A further object of the invention is the provision of, in cooperative connector blocks, like isolated cavities, whereby the cavities in one block coincide with the cavities in the other block, and conductors in said cavities almost as thick as the width of the cavities, the conductors in one block extending from the face of the block, and the conductors in the other block being below the surface thereof a distance less than the distance which the conductors extend'from the other block.

Qther objects will be obvious to those skilled in the art as set forth in the drawing and specification. f

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of lines 4-4 of Figure 2 showing the relation of the contact members when the blocks are secured together;

Figure 5 is a perspective View of a device cabled to said connector device inthe manner shown in Figure 2; and 1 c Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in Figure 5 after the same has been eyeletted together.

The new and improved connector device l0 consists of two cooperative members i I and 12 which consist of similar blocks of insulation l3 and I4 (see Figure 3) The block l3 has a longitudinal channel l5 formed therein accessible from one face thereof and a plurality. of arcuate slots 16 terminating in the opposite face thereof,.sai d slots extending laterally in said last surface, that is to say, at right angles to the longitudinal slot IS in the opposite face. The member H! has alike longitudinal slot I1 and a plurality of like lateral arcuate slots in its opposite face, one of which is shown designated by the numeral |8.,

The elements mounted in each slot l8 are alike and the description will be given in connection with one slot 3, it being understood that .the other slots I8 contain like members.

A hole is formed in the Wall between a slot 18 and the longitudinal'slot I and has forced therein one leg I9 of an L-shaped spring contact member 20. The leg l9 extends through into the slot IS a distance sufficient to enable a wire or cable 2| to 'have its end twisted about the end of the leg l9 and soldered thereto.

The slots l6 formed in block l3 each have a hole extending through and communicating with the longitudinal slot l5. One of the slots l6 is shown in Figure 3- and contains a contact member, one leg 22 of which extends through the aforesaid hole and projects upwardlyfinltheslot or channel l5 a distance sufiicient for a wire or cable 23 to be twisted thereabout and soldered to the leg 22.

Formed integral with the leg 22 is a double loop of spring material 24, the bottom terminus 25 of which extends horizontally as shown in Figure 3 and has'formed therein a plurality of contact points designated by the numerals 26 and 21. The terminus extends out of the slot I6 andconsequently beyond the surfacerof the block l3, the object being that the spring material should extend from the surface of theblock a sufficient distance to establish a contact between the member 22, 24, 25 and the member 19, 20,,which is so formed that the contact resistance between the members is negligible. f

The slots I6 and I8 are a few thousandths wider than the thickness of the contact members, therefore when the blocks [Sand M are firmly secured together in a manner to be presently, described, the slots l8 guide the contact members in the block [3 and insure the maintenance of these contact members in intimate contact with the contact members in the block I4. In order to quickly secure the blocks l3 and I4 togetherja'nd at the same time belenabled to quickly 'disas semble them, a plurality of like holes are formed in the blocks and the holes in the block "13 are threadedso as to accommodate screws 28,

As shown in Figures land 2, the cables or con ductors-leading to the upperblock and from; the

' :Wliatisclaimedjis: J V Q1 In a connector device for electricalfcables, a pair of cooperative blocks ,of insulation materiaLa plurality of isolated cavities form'ed'fin at lower block may be surrounded with a suitable casing 29 which may be circular loom, spaghetii tubing, or the like, or it may be braided directly upon the group of cables. One of the cables is designated by the numeral 23 and is shown'connected to leg 22 and soldered. The cables con nected to the lower block are designated by the numeral 2| and they likewise may be surrounded by some protective member similar to the one shown in29 and designated by the numeral 30. The other ends of the cables 2| may be connected to any means in accordance with what it is assocavity of said second mentioned block, each conductor being substantially L shaped with one leg lying on the bottom of its cavity and the other leg extending through the block for connection to a cable; a conductor in each cavity of said first mentioned block, said last conductors each being ciated with; by way of example, the other ends of the cables 2| are shown in Figure 2- asnex-- a tending into a casing 3|. This type of casing for a cable terminal is shown,.l.describ'ed and claimed 'in co-pending application Serial No.

formed of spring materialwith a straight portion extending through its block for connection to a cable and-a portion of' zigzag form extending from its cavity a distance greater than the depth of the corresponding cavity in said second block minus the thickness of the first mentioned leg of said L shaped conductor, thereby insuring intimate contact between corresponding conductors when said blocks are secured together.

1 2. In a connector device for electrical cables,

H a pair of, cooperative blocks of insulation mateseasss, filed December l1,1940. The 'casing3l as shown in Figure 5 may consist of asheetof insulation having i'ormed therein a plurality of holes 32 alongone edge thereof and 33 along the "other edge thereof, said holes being so positioned in ,the member 3| that when 'the same is folded together, the ,holes 32 ancl33v are in alignment with each other. Eyelets,designated by the numeral 34, are positioned in'the holes 33 after 1 whichthe bare ends of the cables 2! are individually wrapped about said eyelets" and soldered thereto. After a row of eyelets 34 have the-cables 2| secured and soldered thereto, the member 3| is folded so that the cables lie within the'fold as shown in Figure 6, and the end of the loom' or protective member'30 extends within the folded member 3L, After the member 3| has been folded together, the eyelets 34 are riveted so as to permanently secure the member 3| in its folded position, thereby forming ,a terminal block adapted to be electricallyfconnected to a desired 7 device by having screws pass through the holes 35Qformed in the eyelets 34. V V 7 After the cables 23 arevconnected .to the outstanding legs 22 in the channel IS, the cables and :the connections may be protected by means rial, a plurality of isolated cavities formed in at Ieastpnesurface of one of said blocks, a plurality of isolated cavities formed in theother of said-blocks, means for 'detachably securing said blocks "together with their corresponding fisolated cavitiesin registratioma conductor in each cavity of said second mentioned block,-each conductor being of sufiicient width toform a working fit with-the edges'ofits cavity'and being of aplateof insulation 36. This plate has holes c 31 'formed therein which are adapted to be aligned with threaded 'holes 38 formed in the block l3 and secured thereto by meansjof screws 39., Aplate of insulation 40 is provided for covering {the slot I! and ha's forme'cl 'thereidholes 4 I adapted to be aligned with threaded holes 42 in the block l4 and-secured thereto by means of screws'43. v j

j Connector devices of thecharactendescribed herein are of great importancein connection with el ctr ca ,r a a n achinesand other machines of similar character because their" use enablesan assembler of the machine to quickly interconnect various elements which go tomake up the machine and also enable thel repair man to quickly disconnect andrjemoye'; from such machines those elementswhichfneed repair.

ltfis obvious that if the repair man can remove an element oi the machine needing repair to? table onbench hecan more expeditiously make repairs without having the otherel'ements of the v machine in the way.

leastone surface fof one of said blocks, a plu 'rality of isolated cavities formed inthe.other of said blocks, means for detachably securing said blocks together with their corresponding isolated eavities in registration, a conductor in each substantially L'fshaped'infform with one leg lying along and adjacent to thebottom of its cavity and-the-other leg extending through the block for connection to a-cableya conductor in'each cavity of said first mentioned block of sulficient width'to forma fit in its cavity, said last eond'u'ctors each being'formed of spring material with 'a straight portion extending through its block for connection to a cable and a portion of; zigzag form-extending from its cavity a distance greaterthan the depth of the corresponding cavity-in said second block 'minus'the thickness'of the'first mentioned leg of said L shaped conductor; and the clearance between said leg and the bottom of the cavity, thereby insuring and maintaining resilient intimate contact between corresponding conductors'when said blocks are secured together.

2 '3. In a connector device for-electrical cables, a

pair of cooperative blocks of insulation material,

a pluralityof isolated cavities formed in at least one -surface' of one of said blocks, a-longitudinal channel formed in the opposite surface of said last block, a plurality of isolated cavities formed inthe other of-said blocks, a longitudinal channel formed-in the opposite surfa'ce of said lastyblock, means for detachably securing said blocks together with their .--corresponding isolated cavid block minus the thicknessof the first mentioned leg oi said L shaped conductor, thereby. insuring intimate contacflbetween corresponding conductors when "said blocks are secured together.

-4 In a connectordevice 'for electrical cables,

a pair of cooperative blocks of insulation material a plurality of l isolated cavities formed in a at least ;one'-surface-of one of said blocks with webs of said material therebetween, a plurality of isolated cavities formed in the other of said blocks with webs of said material therebetween, means for detachably securing said blocks together with their corresponding isolated cavities in registration and with the webs in one block contacting the webs in the other, a conductor in each cavity of said second mentioned block, each conductor being formed of spring wire of a diameter to form a working fit with the edges of its cavity and being substantially L shaped in form with one leg lying along and adjacent to the bottom of its cavity and the other leg extending through the block for connection to a cable, a conductor in each cavity of said first mentioned block, said last conductors each being formed of spring wire of a diameter sufficient to form a working fit with the edges of its cavity and having a straight portion extending through its block for connection to a cable and a portion of zigzag form extending from its cavity a distance greater than the depth of the corresponding cavity in said second block minus the thickness of the first mentioned leg of said L shaped conductor and the clearance between said leg and the bottom of the cavity, thereby insuring and maintaining resilient intimate contact between 

